2014 Hyundai Genesis Spy Photos

It's being developed to be competitive globally.

Updated 4/17: We’ve received a fresh batch of spy photos, which we’ve included in the photo gallery, of the 2014 Genesis testing on Germany’s Nürburgring circuit. The model is prancing about wearing less camouflage than ever, giving us a better look at the car’s front and rear styling. Both ends of the new Genesis appear to be directly inspired by the HCD-14 Genesis concept shown at the 2013 Detroit auto show.

What It Is: The next generation of Hyundai's luxury sedan, which is being designed to take on the competition not just in the U.S. and Asia, but in Europe, too. The new Genesis sedan will sport Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture styling language: Even though the example caught by our spy photographers at Hyundai's Rüsselsheim, Germany, R&D center is heavily camouflaged, the sculpted flanks and coupe-like roofline are clearly visible. The second-generation Genesis sedan will brim with new tech features, such as full LED headlights and a number of assistance systems. The Genesis coupe, by the way, will carry on in its current form for at least another two years.

Why It Matters: The outgoing Genesis sedan is a car that was designed with Asia and North America in mind. Its conservative design failed to excite, and the handling was merely adequate. (A last-minute increase in price ahead of its 2008 introduction didn’t do the car’s launch momentum any favors, either.) Hyundai intends the next Genesis to be globally competitive, which means the car will be sportier and far more performance-oriented. Even though the U.S. will prove to be the luxury mid-sizer’s most important market, the brand's European R&D operations played a strong role in the development process—witness the Nürburgring testing that’s practically expected of any new luxury sedan.

The next Genesis also is significant from a styling point of view. With its sleek lines that evoke the more compact European-market Hyundai i40, this could be first Hyundai in years that looks better than its Kia sibling, the derivative-looking K9/Quoris. The updated sheetmetal was previewed by Hyundai’s HCD-14 Genesis concept from the 2013 Detroit auto show. That show car’s complex head- and taillight design and tall trapezoidal grille are making the jump to production, and should further help set the new Genesis apart in the luxury-sedan scene.

Platform: The next-generation Genesis sedan will use an evolution of its current platform, a rear-wheel-drive architecture that can be modified to accommodate all-wheel drive. This platform is shared with the slow-selling Equus, as well as the Kia K9/Quoris. We expect the Genesis to receive far sportier tuning than in past models—Hyundai is serious about targeting Audi and BMW.

Powertrains: The Genesis will continue to offer the 3.8-liter V-6 Lambda and 5.0-liter V-8 Tau engines. Output likely will remain close to what’s produced by today’s Genesis—333 horsepower from the V-6 and 429 from the V-8. The European market will be offered a four-cylinder diesel that produces 220 horsepower, and a diesel hybrid using the same mill is a possibility.

Estimated Arrival and Price: After being revealed in concept form in early January, the production-ready Genesis is likely to be available beginning in late 2013 as a 2014 model. The base price should remain very near today’s $35,095.